Page 61 of Double

“Don’t make me come down there, Sweetheart. I’mma need your titties and ass covered at all times.”

I laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“Ain’t nobody laughing but you.”

After leaving Royalty’s house littered with discarded clothing and smelling like both perfume and hair mist, the seven of us hit the streets of Miami for the concert. Since the ladies had already started pre-gaming before we left the house and were still drinking liquor in the truck, we were all aware that it would be a night of intoxicated behavior. Instead of forcing somebody to be the designated driver, Journey hired a chauffeured car. The driver pulled to a stop in front of the venue, exited the truck, and came around to open the door for us. Each of us slid out, adjusting and smoothing down our outfits. I looked up at the marquee and wanted to laugh when I realized that we were seeing King Cobra.

Our first stop was the bar to get drinks. Once we all had a drink in our hands, we made our way to the usher, who helped us find our seats. And once again, I would be front and center at a King Cobra concert.

The vibe of the concert with the girls was totally different from the vibe with Double. When the opening strains of his party anthem, Fuego en la Disco (Fire in the Club) started to play, and Shaun ascended to the stage from the floor that looked like it was ablaze with flames, the seven of us went wild. We screamed and yelled. We jumped up and down and danced. We clinked our cups of liquor in a toast with each other and constantly wished Lyric happy birthday, completely using our outside voices.

During Reina de la Calle (Queen of the Streets), Journey and I sang-shouted in each other’s faces, while Royalty twerked her ass so hard that everybody around us started cheering her on. During Without You, the seven of us mimicked every move from the video with precision. I was glad when he moved into his more romantic and steamy hit, Midnight Session, because by that time, my throat was raw, and I was worried that I wouldn’t have a voice in the morning.

“Ahh!” I yelled as Shaun left the stage at the end of the show. “Best concert ever!”

“I’m a little drunk,” Journey told me.

“I’m a lotta drunk,” Angel said.

“I’m hungry,” Royalty said.

Before any of us had the opportunity to address that particular statement, a suited gentleman was approaching us.

“Oh shit, what did we do to make them send the feds after us?” Royalty questioned.

“It’s not the feds. It’s King Cobra’s security guy coming to take us backstage to see him.”

Lyric’s face lit up. “For my birthday?”

“Why?” Royalty asked at the same time.

“Because he’s an acquaintance,” I admitted.

The seven of us gathered our things and followed the security guy backstage.

“We meet again,” Shaun said, and this time, he gave me a full-on frontal hug.

I gave him a couple of weak back pats and removed myself from his embrace with a plastered-on smile. I was half-intoxicated, tired, and I didn’t appreciate the liberty he took in hugging me without my permission. “Yeah.”

He looked around obviously. “No husband this time?”

“Nah. It’s a girls’ trip for my cousin’s birthday.” I gestured toward Lyric.

He eyed her then smiled. I wasn’t surprised. All of the women in Double’s life were breathtakingly beautiful. “Happy birthday, gorgeous. I wish I had known; I definitely would’ve brought you up on stage.”

Lyric blushed.

“What’re you doing for your birthday?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged.

“I’m headed to Iredia. You ever been on a private jet?” He thought he was impressing her. He didn’t understand how her family rolled at all. Charity, Angel, and Lyric’s parents were Nasir and Joya Payne. Nasir was a world-renowned music producer, and their mother had sang some of the most iconic hooks on the hip-hop and R&B anthems of the early 2000s. She wasn’t impressed with his jet. Furthermore, wasn’t he engaged to be married? To the sweetheart of the island, no less.

Lyric curved the question when she responded. “I love Iredia. When are you comin’ back to The States? A little birthday jaunt could be nice, but I can’t stay past tomorrow.”

“I’ll make sure you get back by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Early afternoon,” Lyric negotiated. “After breakfast but before lunch.”